Myakka River State Park

Myakka River State Park is an extremely popular park during the winter months and it usually best to make your reservations for this time 11 months in advance as soon as the reservation window opens online. The peak season is January to March. According to the park rangers, the park is slowly getting more visitors in the summer months as well. We stayed in the park for three months as campground hosts in one of the older camping areas called Old Prairie. The bathhouse was old but still functions very well with lots of hot water, water pressure not too bad and a new washer/dryer on the side. The fee was $1.50 per load while if we were to go over to the volunteer village and sign up for a time it would only be $1.25 per load. Anyway, even though we haven’t spent any time in any of the other camping areas we have visited them and spoken with some of the campground hosts about them. The campground directly across from Old Prairie is the newest one all with sewers on site, large gravel sites for large RVs and a paved road around and is called Palmetto Ridge. Naturally, the bathhouses in this area are quite large with washers/dryers on the sides. The other campground is located a few miles down the park drive near the concession area called Big Flats. Now, these sites are mostly dirt sites, smaller with a big tenting area. They also have a tendency to flood when there is a lot of rain. The concession area has two stores to get supplies for camping, food, a new gift shop, restaurant, as well as firewood and ice. They also offer boat tours of the Upper Myakka Lake/River area and tram tours in certain areas of the park during the peak season. Finally, they rent out canoes, kayaks and even bicycles while you are there.

There is a seven-mile road from the main entrance to the back entrance of the park with lots of places in between to sit by the water, fish, gawk at alligators, take pictures of the various wildlife or just enjoy your ride. Of course, there are lots of trails to explore as well. Myakka has a preserve on the other side main road where, with a permit, you can primitive camp as a single or in the group camping area. Most hikers in this area must get a permit as well and check out with the ranger station before it gets dark. There are thousands of acres out there to explore. While we were workamping one of the perks for newbies was taking around almost the entire park and preserve in an air-conditioned truck by one of the other experienced volunteers. That was a very nice day. My only regret about our time there was that I was unable to take the main trail called the canopy walkway. I have seen pictures but would have liked to go through myself.

The park has cabins as well as camping areas. While we were there we didn’t get a chance to check them out but they looked like those old CCC cabins with modern amenities. We were told that they are scheduled to be refurbished so if we are ever able to return I will make sure that we get a tour of them. There are two big picnic and playground areas within the park. One near the main ranger’s station while a huge music stage next to the Myakka River and the other is near the back entrance with a creek of some kind running along one side. The park also has a museum that we were only able to visit briefly during our initial tour of the park. So that is something else we will have to go back to see.

All in all, we enjoyed ourselves at Myakka River State Park. The only bad part is that it is approximately 20 miles from the nearest town. Slowly civilization is encroaching on the area with subdivisions getting closer and closer. That is good on the one hand in that grocery stores are getting nearer but bad as well because more and more people are visiting the park all year round. Visitors are good for the economic health of the park but for us oldsters that like more peace and quiet not so much.

Camping Fees:
$26.00 per night, plus tax. Includes water and electricity.
Florida residents who are 65 years of age or older or who hold a social security disability award certificate or a 100 percent disability award certificate from the Federal Government are permitted to receive a 50 percent discount on current base campsite fees. Proof of eligibility

CAMPSITES: There are approximately 90 campsites but only 77 are reservable and for RVs. The rest are 5 cabins, tent sites and non-reservable.